Studies: Facebook posts and drinking help couples stay together longer

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MADISON, WI - A couple new studies reveal some of the most important elements in a happy relationship. But we're not talking about love, respect, honesty or trust; instead, they look at the value of Facebook and drinking in relationships.

Let’s tackle that Facebook study first. According to University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers, if you’re “in a relationship” on the social media site, that relationship will last longer. The study looked at 180 students who were all in relationships and reviewed how they depicted their relationship on Facebook, such as how many photos they posted, whether they changed their relationship status and how many times they wrote on their partner’s wall.

It turns out, the overly-lovey-dovey-make-you-want-to-throw-up-in-your-mouth-a-little couples stayed together longer. Researchers say that’s likely because of the public persona they created for themselves, prompting them to reflect it in the way they act.

Now to State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo, where researchers determined that couples who drink together, stay together. This one tracked 600 couples as they started their marriages. They filled out a questionnaire before they tied the knot, then several times throughout the marriage. One of the findings is that couples who have different drinking habits grew dissatisfied with each other. But, apparently, drinking together helped other couples stay together. That's obviously not healthy if you’re drinking to excess, so researchers advise keeping it in check.